VOA慢速英语2021-- Magazine or Journal?

This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Felippe in Brazil. He says:

Question:

Hi! I'm from Barra do Piraí, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and I have a little question: What is the difference between a magazine and a journal¹? Thanks!

- Felippe, Brazil

Answer:

Hello Felippe,

There are several differences between these two kinds of publications³.

Magazines contain things like news, interviews, essays, how-to guides, pictures and advertisements.

Magazines are usually published weekly or monthly⁴. They are aimed at the general public and use language that most of the public can easily understand. The articles are written by professional writers and reporters. Some are experts on the subjects they are writing about. But many are not. Suppose, for example, someone is writing a health-related story for a magazine. The person may gather information by speaking to health experts, reading about the subject on the internet and looking at study reports. They may even include information from press releases⁵ on the subject.

That is very different from a journal.

Journal

A journal is a publication² aimed at researchers, academics and experts in a professional field. Journals⁶ contain reports that describe original research and study findings⁷.

For example, a team of social scientists might study how COVID-19 has affected⁸ people's desire to spend time in groups. A team of insect experts might study how chemical products are affecting bees. One or more people from these teams then writes a report describing the study and its results. These reports contain formal language and technical terms known within a particular field.

Most journal articles are also peer-reviewed. That means they are carefully examined by other researchers from a specific field before they are approved for publication. Most journals are published just a few times each year.

There is something else called a "trade journal." This is not the same as an academic journal. Trade journals are publications that promote education and skills within a specific trade or industry.

And that's Ask a Teacher for this week.

Words in This Story

interview - n. a meeting between a reporter or writer and another person in order to get information for an article

essay - n. a piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a subject

academic - adj. of or relating to schools and education

formal - adj. suitable for serious or official speech and writing

promote - v. to help something happen, develop, or increase

1 journal   

n.日志，日记；议事录；日记帐；杂志，定期刊物

参考例句：

• He kept a journal during his visit to Japan.他在访问日本期间坚持记日记。
• He got a job as editor of a trade journal.他找到了一份当商业杂志编辑的工作。

2 publication   

n.出版，发行；出版；公布，发表

参考例句：

• They don't think this article is suitable for publication.他们认为这篇文章不宜发表。
• The government has delayed publication of the trade figures.政府已将贸易统计数字延后公布。

3 publications   

n.发表( publication的名词复数 )；公布；出版；出版物

参考例句：

• The related publications are far too numerous to list individually. 相关出版物太多，没法一一列举。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request. 我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 monthly   

adj.每月的，持续一个月的，每月发生的；adv.每月，按月； n.月刊；(复数）monthlies:月经

参考例句：

• The rent on his apartment was his biggest monthly expense.他的房租是每个月最大的开支。
• The monthly rent is $15,inclusive of light and water.每月租金15美元，包括水电费在内。

5 releases   

v.释放( release的第三人称单数 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• Nuclear fission releases tremendous amounts of energy. 核裂变释放出巨大的能量。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Zemel says that when calcium levels are low, the body releases a hormone that helps squeeze the most out of every available milligram of the mineral. 泽莫尔博士说，当人体中的钙含量偏低时，身体里就会产生一种荷尔蒙，它能帮助肌体最大限度地吸收所摄入的钙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 journals   

n.（某学科或专业的）杂志( journal的名词复数 )；期刊；日志；（用于报纸名）…报

参考例句：

• Which journals does the library subscribe to? 图书馆订有哪些报刊？
• This short story was published by two journals of repute. 这篇短篇小说由两种著名的杂志刊出。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 findings   

n.发现物( finding的名词复数 )；调查（或研究）的结果；（陪审团的）裁决

参考例句：

• It behoves us to study these findings carefully. 我们理应认真研究这些发现。
• Their findings have been widely disseminated . 他们的研究成果已经广为传播。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。